Submission info

To any authors wishing to submit, we absolutely would love to hear from you – but please take note of what we are interested in and what we are not. We do not guarantee we will respond to every submission, especially if it is obvious that the submitter has paid no heed to what we are actually looking for. While our primary focus is science fiction (and subgenres), we consider fantasy, horror and other spec fic genres if the story breaks the mould. We want mature spec fic that challenges preconceptions (both conceptually and stylistically) and that is what we will provide the reader.

What we like

We like genre fiction that makes us think, that has at its base an intellectual stimulation aroused through speculation on humanity, the planet(s) and technology (or lack thereof). We like the ‘what if…?’ We want to see what could be or might have been.

There seems to be a dearth of this ‘intelligent’ genre fiction. We know there are writers out there with grand ideas who want to express them, and there are readers who want to find something that truly challenges the status quo. Not only that but we believe there is strong potential in Australian writers to produce excellent speculative fiction, and we want to bring these voices to the worldstage. We’re a bunch of fans looking to make a change to the scene.

What we don't really like

Fantastica invites Australian and New Zealand writers to submit science fiction manuscripts for consideration.

What are we after

Science fiction, not fantasy. Anything high-tech, low-tech or even no-tech (if you are OK with post-apoc style sci fi?). Stories set on a generation ship, on a futuristic terra firma or on a planet a million light years away.

Manuscripts of 30,000 words or more.

Works that start with a bang, blow our minds and subvert our expectations.